Hi everyone, my name is Heide.

My background is in Education, Person Centred Counselling and Residential Social Work, however it is my lived experience of Mental Health challenges that have brought me to the Recovery College, first of all as a student and as time went on as a lived experience tutor.

I have been a peer tutor since September 2017 and feel as passionate about the work we do, as I did at the beginning.

Signing up for one of our courses can be the very first step to re-connect with others in an environment, where stigma has no place, instead where sharing, learning with and from each other, creativity and connecting with others and self becomes possible again.

I feel privileged to be part of such a positive organisation, to be part of building solid foundations for this road towards recovery. Even the longest journey starts with a single first step. Recovery is always possible. I am looking forward to meeting you at one of our sessions and to walk alongside you for part of the journey.

Hello everyone, my name is Andrea,

I am thrilled to be part of the Buckinghamshire recovery college team as a Lived Experience Tutor.

My working environment for the last few years has been working within the aviation industry but I have always been interested in mental health and psychology. Hence why I have decided to broaden my knowledge and enhance my skills in this field at university level. I am a people person and I believe that healing also comes from support being offered.

Having experienced the recovery college as a student I have a greater insight and understanding of the college and its courses and what it means to attend courses. It might feel a bit daunting initially being part of a group with strangers, but it will gradually change and although we all have good and bad days the connections made with other students is a valuable. The shared learning and experiences with the tutors and fellow within courses can be of big support and very beneficial. We are all different, we all have the right to be listened to and communication is key for everyone’s personal recovery journey.

I am looking forward to meeting old and new students. I will try my best to engage with students so that they feel comfortable in sessions and that they have a positive learning experience.